Stacking mechanism for wrapped tablets and the like



Sept. 9, 1958 A. SERAGNOLI 2,351,172

smcxmc; MECHANISM FOR WRAPPED TABLETS AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept- 8' A. SERAGNOLI 2,851,172

STACKING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPED TABLETS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1955 Fig.3

1 WM 770 My United States PatentO STACKING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPED TABLETS AND THE LIKE Ariosto Seragnoli, Bologna, Italy Application March 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,587

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-7) This invention-relates to a stacking mechanism for wrapped tablets and the like, which mechanism cooperates with a wrapping machine. In the specification, for the sake of simplicity, we will use the word tablet to indicate in general any more or less fiat article.

In wrapping machines of the usual type, the wrapped tablet is delivered to a flat plate upon which it rests after having left the wrappingmechanism, the ends of the wrapper being overlapped and usually sealed with glue.

In the usual stacking mechanisms, the wrapped tablets are arranged one after the other on a plane guide, upon which they slide, each lying fiat on its lower face, and each of them advancing all the preceding tablets. Such mechanisms give rise to trouble because the folds of the wrapper unfold and, furthermore, the tablets are liable to overlap the nearer one, which causes breakage. This type of stacking mechanism also makes tablet removal difficult.

The object of this invention is to stack the wrapped tablets, putting them on edge in a row on a generally horizontal magazine, from which they can be easily removed.

This invention is characterized by the fact that, after leaving the wrapping machine, the wrapped tablet is grasped and held by a lifting and rotating device, which holds the tablet fast, thus preventing the wrapper from unfolding, and which transports said tablet to the stacking magazine. Y

The invention is exemplified, but not limited by, the preferred embodiment described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical cross-section of the mechanism according to line 1-1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view according to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, in which the magazine is omitted.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section according to line 1-1 in Fig. 2, but in a successive stage of operation.

Fig. 4 is a view of a tablet with a label wrapped as a band.

For the sake of simplicity, Fig. 4 relates to a style of wrapping comprising a label 11 wrapped as a band around the tablet 12 to hold the underlying wrapper. The mechanism, however, is suitable also for different styles of wrap, and the above mentioned style of wrap is shown as an example, but not as a limitation.

The invention comprises a load supporting arm 15 for lifting and rotating the wrapped tablet 12. This arm carries stopping projections 16 and, in the outer part, a notch 30 and two elements 29 bent to form an arc of a circle and coaxially attached to a hollow shaft 18. The hollow shaft 18, with which said arm is connected through levers 22, is rotationally mounted on a stationary frame 19. Sleeves 20, axially sliding upon said hollow shaft 18, to which they are bound by means of keys 21, enable relative rotation. Adjustable slides 37, inserted in grooves provided in said sleeves 20, allow for adjustment. Springs 17 are fixed on slides 37. Rollers 35 are pivoted on appendixes connected with said sleeves 2,851,172 Patented Sept. 9, 1958 walls and with a cover 27, the latter carrying hinge 39. r

A hook 28 is hinged to pin 39' and is kept in place by a spring 38. Means are provided to rotate the hollow shaft 18 and' shaft 31 together, or the one in respect to the other, in time with the operation of the wrapping machine.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 40 represents the wrapped tablet exit of. the wrapping machine.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

The mechanisms of the wrapping machine push the wrapped tablet through exit 40 on the load supporting arm 15 until it reaches the stopping projections 16. The glued ends 13 of label 11 usually superimpose the other end 14 of the label. Springs 17 press on the tablet and keep it on the load supporting arm, preventing unfolding of the label and of the wrapper. successively, shaft 31 and the hollow shaft 18 rotate together, lifting, by means of levers 22, arm 15, the wrapped tablet held in place by springs 17 carried by sleeves 20 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

During this rotation, shafts 18 and 31 rotate together while cam 34 does not move in respect to rollers 35 so that sleeves 20 keep their relative position, as shown in Fig. 2, and springs 17 continue to press on tablet 12, keeping it in place.

The narrowed frontal part 23 of the magazine 25 allows levers 22 and springs 17 to pass it on the sides,

, thus making it possible for the wrapped tablet to be brought against hook 28 and to lift it. The hook then descends behind the tablet into notch 30 of arm 15 holding the wrapped and stacked tablets.

Successively, shaft 31 rotates so as to force cam 34 against rollers 35 and the springs 17, carried by sleeves 20 to move away from the tablet, leaving it stacked in the magazine. Then the hollow shaft 18 and shaft 31 rotate together in a direction opposite to the preceding rotation, bringing again to the original position the arm and the springs. After having passed the narrowed portion 23 of the stacker, shaft 31 rotates again inrespect to the hollow shaft 18 so as to retire cam 34 from rollers 35 and to let springs 17 move one towards the other until they reach their initial position under the action of spring 36.

While arm 15 is raised from the lower position, the bent elements 29 connected with it face the exit 40 of the wrapping machine so as to prevent other wrapped tablets from falling out.

Springs 17 are connected to sleeves 20 by means of the adjustable slides 37, which permits adjustment of their distance according to the size of the wrapped tablet.

Having thus described the invention in relationship with a particular manner of embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after having understood the invention, that many other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. It is obvious, for instance, that the invention is suitable for tablets wrapped in any other style. It is also obvious that arm 15 can be omitted, assigning its functions to levers 22 and leaving entirely opened the space existing between these levers.

It is intended to cover by the following claim all the changes and modifications which enter into the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

An article stacking apparatus comprising a horizontal- 1y disposed magazine having an article admission mouth and in which magazine articles are adapted to be successively deposited in stacked relationship, an arm disposed beneath said magazine and being movable about an axis for transporting successive articles from a source thereof and depositing the same in the mouth of said magazine, means cooperating with said arm for clamping the articles thereto during the transportation thereof, means containing said axis for moving said arm between an article-receiving portion and said magazine, and means for moving said article clamping means from clamping engagement with the successive articles after being deposited in said magazine for permitting withdrawal of the supporting arm from the mouth of the magazine, said means for moving said arm between said article-receiving position and said magazine comprising a hollow shaft to which said arm is connected, said shaft being segmental in cross section with resulting spaced edges, said means for moving said article clamping means from clamping engagement with said articles comprising a cylindrical shaft disposed within said hollow shaft, axially movable collars surrounding said hollow shaft and to which said clamping means are secured, said collars being rotatable with said hollow shaft, a cam surrounding said hollow shaft and having a rigid connection with said cylindrical shaft, rollers carried by said collars, and the same cam having opposite side cam faces whereby upon rotation of the hollow shaft, said arm is moved from said source to said magazine and upon rotation of said cylindrical shaft, said clamping means are moved out of engagement with the articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,847,812 Burton et al. Mar. 1 ,1932 2,356,451 Evans et a1 Aug. 22, 1944 2,441,757 Doering et a1. May 18, 1948 2,670,090 Crawley et a1 Feb. 23, 1954 

